Articles Tagged With: Credit History

April 17, 2019

Can I Buy A Home With An FHA Mortgage After Foreclosure?

After a major negative credit event like a foreclosure, some home owners assume they may never be able to get a lender to take them seriously for a home loan ever again. Is this true? At first glance, FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 might lead a potential borrower to think that it is. “A Borrower is generally not eligible for a new FHA-insured Mortgage if the Borrower had a foreclosure or a DIL of foreclosure in the three-year period prior to the date of case number assignment.” The abbreviation DIL stands for deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Note that the above does NOT say the borrower can NEVER get a home loan again. There is a three-year waiting period required but it IS possible. And later in HUD 4000.1, we | more...

March 14, 2019

How To Get A Lower Home Loan Interest Rate

By Joe Wallace

Home loan interest rates are a tricky issue, and if you are working with a real estate agent to find your first home, knowing as much as you can about rates going into the home loan application process is a very good idea. How can you get a lower rate when shopping for a home? There are some strategies to consider but many of them involve starting as early as possible in the planning stages. Getting A Lower FHA Home Loan Interest Rate By Shopping Around As you would never buy a used car from the first person you meet selling one, it’s important to shop around for a home loan lender offering the most competitive interest rates and terms. If you are a first-time home buyer, shop around for | more...

February 25, 2019

FHA Loan Qualifying Credit Scores

By Joe Wallace

FICO scores are a big part of getting your home loan approved as a first time home buyer or repeat borrower alike. One of the first questions someone purchasing their first home with an FHA loan will ask is what FICO scores qualify for the mortgage. And that’s not surprising; FHA loan credit qualifications do specify a minimum FICO score for all borrowers. And believe it or not, it’s the same credit score ranges for both first-time borrowers and those who have purchased real estate before. The FICO score minimums for the lowest down payment are set by the FHA and HUD, with these minimums often being increased by participating lenders based on that financial institution’s standard. So what you read below about qualifying FICO scores is the baseline score | more...

February 19, 2019

What You Should Know About FHA Home Loan Credit Checks As A First-Time Home Buyer

By Joe Wallace

Before you get FHA home loan approval on that piece of real estate you have your eyes on, your mortgage loan application process will include a credit check. Your lender will need to determine your creditworthiness, and also verify your employment and income. Most borrowers expect this process and thanks to having other kinds of credit applications including credit cards, auto loans, and student loans, have a basic idea of what will happen. But not everyone expects that their initial credit check for the home loan they are applying for will NOT be the last one the lender does before the loan closes. You might not get the down-low on this from your real estate agent or your lender, but this is one of the “secret” things about the home | more...

February 7, 2019

FHA Loan Approval: Credit Check Facts

By Joe Wallace

First-time borrowers and experienced house hunters alike often wonder if their credit is good enough to be approved for a new mortgage loan. Do you know the facts about credit and FHA home loan approval? FHA Credit Score Standards May Vary From Your Lender’s Requirements The FHA home loan program’s FICO score standards are the minimum requirement. FHA loan rules say that any borrower with a FICO score of 500 or higher is eligible to apply for an FHA loan. Lender standards may be higher than this, which is one reason why it’s best to start working on your credit early-long before you apply for a home loan. FHA Credit Requirements Can Be More Forgiving FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 say that it is not impossible to get a | more...

February 1, 2019

FHA Loans For First-Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

If you are in the market for a first home or a starter home for a new family, there are many options to keep in mind that an FHA home loan can help you with. Which one of these FHA mortgage loan options is right for you? FHA 203(b) New Purchase Home Loans For First-Time Buyers And Return Borrowers If you are interested in a typical suburban home for your first house hunting adventure, the FHA 203(b) Mortgage is the right one for your needs. These home loans are for existing construction properties that don’t need extensive repairs and are intended for those who plan to own and occupy the home as their primary residence. FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Loans For Fixer-Upper Homes The FHA 203(k) rehab loan is the one | more...

January 24, 2019

Buying A Starter Home With An FHA Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans can help any financially qualified borrower get into a new home with a low down payment and more forgiving credit requirements. The FHA home loan program is for first-time home buyers and experienced homeowners alike. How FHA Mortgage Loans Differ From Other Home Loans For First Time Home Buyers How do FHA mortgage loans differ from conventional mortgage loans, USDA loans or VA mortgages? There are many factors. One important difference between FHA mortgages and conventional loans is that unlike some mortgage loans, an FHA loan for a starter home or other principal residence has no penalty for early payoff of the mortgage loan. FHA loan rules specifically deny the lender the ability to penalize a borrower for paying more than the monthly mortgage payment and/or paying | more...

January 16, 2019

Government First-Time Home Buyer Programs

By Joe Wallace

Many first-time home buyers want to know if there are government programs for those who have never purchased a home before. FHA home loans often get included into this category and it’s true; FHA mortgages are good for those buying a first home. FHA loan limits have increased for two years in a row at the time of this writing, there are lower FHA FICO score requirements and lower down payment requirements for FHA loans that make them a good option to explore when shopping for your first home and your first real estate loan. But FHA mortgages are not specifically intended for first-time buyers. You do not have to be a new house hunter to apply. That said, FHA mortgages for a starter home, first home, or for a | more...

January 8, 2019

Buying A Home With An FHA Loan After A Short Sale

By Joe Wallace

A short sale is essentially the sale of a home that is still being paid for, where the property sells for less than the amount owed. The lienholder(s) agree to write off the remainder and forgive the deficiency. Borrowers who sell short are often taking measures to avoid foreclosure on the mortgage, but not all of the short sale transactions that happen are on mortgages that have fallen into delinquency. Short sales happen in many circumstances but one common scenario involves a homeowner who is suffering from an underwater mortgage and is trying to cut their losses. Getting An FHA Loan After A Short Sale Is it possible to buy a home with an FHA mortgage loan after a short sale? The short answer is yes. Buying a home with | more...

January 2, 2019

FHA Loans Are Available In 2019

By Joe Wallace

Why do we announce that FHA loans are available in 2019? At the time of this writing, the government shutdown is still in effect, and many government websites including FHA.gov and HUD.gov (FHA.gov redirects to HUD.gov) have an announcement stating that the sites themselves are not open for business. Consider the quote from HUD.gov: “Due to the lapse in Congressional Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is closed. HUD websites will not be updated until further notice. For more information, see HUD Contingency Plan for Possible Lapse in Appropriations. “ But that DOES NOT MEAN that FHA home loans are unavailable. FHA Forward Mortgage Purchase Loans Are Available In Spite Of The Government Shutdown FHA mortgages are generally processed and serviced by | more...